Cancer Symptoms and Effects
Cancer
is a serious malignant tumor which can cause devastating effects in someone's life. The disease is
multi-symptomatic medical condition, leading to the development of a variety symptoms, ranging from
insignificant to life-threatening symptoms . It's effects can be multiple and vary from one patient to another.
In fact, the majority of cancers are completely asymptomatic at first. When finally emerge, symptoms are not
typical to the disease. Cancer effects are often minor and common to many other diseases at the genesis. Only
specific diagnostic procedures may lead to the detection of the cancer. In general, the characteristics of
cancer symptoms depend on the organ affected and its stage.
For
instance, lung cancer may lead to the development of:
- shortness
of breath
- difficulty
swallowing
- alteration
of general condition
- chest
pain and cough
- loss of
appetite and weight loss
- spitting
blood
- Swollen lymph nodes in
neck or at the level of the clavicles.
In the
majority of women, breast cancer usually manifests
by:
-
depression (mostly after diagnosis)
- presence
of a lump in the breast
- palpable
swollen lymph nodes in the armpits
- Physiological
and functional changes in the breast: nipple discharge, presence of red patch on the breast, abnormal skin
peeling, breast pain, etc.
Colon cancer can go undetected for a long period. However, left untreated, the
cancer can spread into the liver, lymph nodes and other
parts of the body, leading to the development of:
- New
onset of abdominal pain
- Disorder
or change in bowel movement
- An
alteration of general condition
- An
abdominal tumor or liver metastasis
- Bowel
obstruction or intestinal perforation (complication).
Unlike many
other cancers, prostate cancer has a slow growth, and may take years before producing symptoms.
In fact, some men die with prostate cancer without being aware of it. When symptoms finally occur, they may include:
- Frequent
urination
- Difficulty
in retaining and/or starting urine
- Low or
discontinuous urine output
- Pain or
burning sensation on urination
- Blood in
the urine
- Painful
ejaculation
- Dull
pain in lower back, the hips or upper thighs...
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